ISLAMABAD: Over two million people have died in 11,778 reported climate-related disasters between 1970 and 2021, according to new data released by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

These extreme events have also resulted in economic losses of $4.3 trillion.

The figures are part of the WMO’s ‘Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water-related Hazards’, and based on the data from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters’ Emergency Events Database.

Over 90 per cent of reported deaths worldwide occurred in developing countries.

Over 60pc of economic losses due to weather-, climate- and water-related disasters were reported for developed economies. However, the economic losses were equivalent to less than 0.1pc of the gross domestic product (GDP) in respective economies in more than four-fifths of these disasters.

WMO data shows 11,778 tragedies caused $4.3 trillion losses

No disasters were reported with economic losses greater than 3.5pc of the respective GDPs.

The United States alone incurred losses of $1.7tr, accounting for 39pc of economic losses worldwide in the 51 years. Most of the reported economic losses were attributed to storm-related disasters, and more specifically, to tropical cyclones.

But the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States suffered a disproportionately high cost in relation to the size of their economies.

In Asia, 3,612 disasters attributed to weather, climate and water extremes were reported, with 984,263 deaths and $1.4tr in economic losses. Between 1970 and 2021, the continent accounted for 47pc of all reported deaths worldwide, with tropical cyclones being the leading cause of reported deaths.

Tropical cyclone Nargis — which hit Myanmar in May 2008 — led to 138,366 deaths. Bangladesh has the highest death toll in Asia with 520,758 deaths due to 281 events.

In Europe, 1,784 disasters caused 166,492 deaths and $562bn in economic losses. Between 1970 and 2021, the continent accounted for 8pc of reported deaths worldwide.

In South America, there were 943 disasters attributed to weather, climate and water extremes, with floods accounting for 61 per cent of these. They resulted in 58,484 deaths and $115.2bn in economic losses.

In North America, Central America and the Caribbean the 2,107 reported disasters caused 77,454 deaths and $2tr in economic losses. Between 1970 and 2021, the region accounted for 46pc of the reported economic losses worldwide.

In Africa, 1,839 disasters attributed to weather, climate and water extremes were reported between 1970 and 2021. They caused 733,585 deaths and $43bn billion in economic losses. Droughts accounted for 95pc of the reported deaths. Tropical cyclone Idai in March 2019 was the costliest event with a loss amounting to $2.1bn.

There were 1,493 such disasters in the South-West Pacific, resulting in 66,951 deaths and $185.8bn in economic losses. Tropical cyclones were the leading cause of death.

The report said that the improvement in early warnings and coordinated disaster management efforts have slashed the human casualty toll over the past half a century.

In the last two years under consideration — 2020 and 2021 — the number of deaths (22,608 deaths in total) indicated a further decrease in mortality relative to the annual average of the previous decade. However, the economic losses have increased with most of them attributed to storm-related disasters.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2023